The Clark family shares their experience with hippotherapy and Sanfilippo Syndrome
Should parents consider hippotherapy for a child with Sanfilippo Syndrome? Hear what Eli’s mom Jaime says about their experience with hippotherapy, which is the integration of therapy services such as OT, PT, or speech with equine-based activities.
Eli has been participating in hippotherapy for more than seven years and Jaime shares the benefits they’ve seen, their strategies to make the sessions as beneficial as possible, and how the therapy has evolved as Sanfilippo has progressed.
Learn more about hippotherapy and Sanfilippo Syndrome by watching the archive of Sanfilippo Speak on the subject. Sanfilippo Speak is the Foundation’s family support webinar series that provides Sanfilippo-specific insights around pivotal topics. In April, the session focused on exploring hippotherapy as a modality for individuals with Sanfilippo and discuss the differences between hippotherapy and therapeutic riding and their benefits.
It is caused by a single gene defect which leads to lack of a necessary enzyme in the body. This lack of enzyme results in the build-up of toxic storage in every cell and is especially harmful to the brain. This build-up causes a cascade of detrimental effects and ultimately death.
Sanfilippo Syndrome is often referred to as being like Alzheimer’s, but in children. Currently there is no FDA-approved treatment or cure for Sanfilippo Syndrome.